The first place you go when you join the Army is off to boot camp! I’ve never been but I hear it’s really hard and it either makes you or breaks you! You are told when to get up, what to do and when to do it, how to dress, and how to behave. The Army owns you. You obviously need tough people if you are going to win a war, but is there a goal or purpose in boot camp?

Here’s what I found at www.todaysmilitary.com.  I'm telling you - this will preach!

“Basic Training - officially called Initial-entry Training—prepares recruits for all elements of service: physical, mental, and emotional. It gives service people the basic tools necessary to perform the roles that will be asked of them for the duration of their tour. 

Army Basic Combat Training - More than just pushups and mess halls, the Army's basic training is a nine-week-long journey of self-discovery. Follow six recruits as they go through Basic Training, discovering their inner strength and learning valuable skills that will help them succeed as Soldiers in the Army and in life.”

It occurs to me that God is using the circumstances and situations of our lives to "prepare us for elements of service: physical, mental and emotional" - amen? He's given us the "basic tools necessary to perform" and boy oh boy it's definitely been a "journey of self discovery"! Yep...each trial and testing is also a discovery of "inner strength" and "teaches me valuable skills that help me succeed as a soldier" in God's Army and in life.

Truth is, like it or not, I am in God's Army. As Christ followers, we are in God’s Army which means boot camp (basic and combat training) is absolutely necessary. Honestly, I haven't always been happy about the boot camp/army lifestyle. I've whined, complained, and convinced myself that I'd joined the wrong army!  How about you?  This excerpt from the movie “Private Benjamin” makes me laugh while at the same time proving a point that pricks my heart.

Basic and combat training is designed to make us AND break us! It’s all about learning to submit to God, relying on His strength and power and developing godly character. So, what is God really asking us to do? What will our lives really look like?  The truth is not for sissies or the fainthearted! But, We can do it!

 Are you in?